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1173843

registered interest
date	28/01/2020
answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
answering dept id	201
answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
hansard heading	Railways: Manufacturing Industries
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Transport on the reform of (a) train manufacturing and (b) rolling stock procurement to promote productivity in the UK; and whether her Department has contributed to the Williams Rail Review.
tabling member constituency	Stockton North
tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
uin	9015
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/02/2020 answer text <p>The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy works closely with the Department for Transport regarding the current review of the UK’s railways, independently chaired by Keith Williams.</p><p> </p><p>Our work with DfT, through the Rail Supply Group Council and the Rail Sector Deal, brings the industry and government together to shape investment in our railways and encourage improvements to sustainability, digitalisation, use of data, productivity, skills and diversity, and a boost to exports.</p> answering member constituency Stratford-on-Avon answering member printed Nadhim Zahawi question first answered 03/02/2020 14:55:33 answering member 4113 label Biography information for Nadhim Zahawi
tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

1173844

registered interest
date	28/01/2020
answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
answering dept id	201
answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
hansard heading	Trains
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps her Department is taking to support the development of battery trains.
tabling member constituency	Stockton North
tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
uin	9016
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/01/2020 answer text <p>Through the Faraday Battery Challenge, run by Innovate UK and funded by the Department, we have facilitated work with a leading UK train manufacturer to develop battery technology for use on trains.</p><p> </p><p>Harnessing technology to drive innovation is one of the aims of the Rail Sector Deal, launched by BEIS and the Department for Transport in December 2018. The Rail Sector Deal is a partnership between the Government and the rail industry to help address the Grand Challenges we face. This includes maximising the advantages for UK industry from the global shift to clean growth and positioning the UK as a world leader in shaping the future of mobility.</p> answering member constituency Stratford-on-Avon answering member printed Nadhim Zahawi question first answered 30/01/2020 16:20:50 answering member 4113 label Biography information for Nadhim Zahawi
tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

1173845

registered interest
date	28/01/2020
answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
answering dept id	201
answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
hansard heading	Trains: Exhaust Emissions
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether the Committee on Climate Change will make an assessment of the potential merits of battery trains as part of its work on the Sixth Carbon Budget.
tabling member constituency	Stockton North
tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
uin	9017
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/02/2020 answer text <p>The Committee on Climate Change is an independent advisory body and so it is for the Committee to decide how to take into account any evidence it deems relevant in the development of its advice to Government on the sixth carbon budget.</p> answering member constituency Spelthorne answering member printed Kwasi Kwarteng question first answered 04/02/2020 12:00:47 answering member 4134 label Biography information for Kwasi Kwarteng
tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

1173945

registered interest
date	28/01/2020
answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
answering dept id	201
answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
hansard heading	Carers: Leave
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, when the Government plans to bring forward legislative proposals to introduce an entitlement to leave for unpaid carers.
tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Selly Oak
tabling member printed	Steve McCabe
uin	8945
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/02/2020 answer text <p>This Government is determined to make Britain the best place in the world to work. As announced in the Queens’ Speech, we will be bringing forward an Employment Rights Bill to deliver the greatest reform of workers’ rights in over 20 years. This will include measures to introduce an entitlement to leave for unpaid carers.</p><p>The Government’s proposal is to introduce a week of unpaid Carer’s Leave. This will be in addition to existing employment rights, such as the right to request flexible working, annual leave and the right to time off for family and dependants which help employees balance work with caring responsibilities. In taking this forward, the Department will continue to engage widely to understand how carers’ needs can best be met.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst grouped question UIN 8946 8947 question first answered 03/02/2020 14:53:18 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
tabling member	298 label Biography information for Steve McCabe

1173947

registered interest
date	28/01/2020
answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
answering dept id	201
answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
hansard heading	Carers: Leave
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to the Answer of 13 June 2019 to Question 262229 on Compassionate Leave, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of introducing statutory long-term leave for unpaid carers alongside the planned introduction of one weeks' additional leave.
tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Selly Oak
tabling member printed	Steve McCabe
uin	8946
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/02/2020 answer text <p>This Government is determined to make Britain the best place in the world to work. As announced in the Queens’ Speech, we will be bringing forward an Employment Rights Bill to deliver the greatest reform of workers’ rights in over 20 years. This will include measures to introduce an entitlement to leave for unpaid carers.</p><p>The Government’s proposal is to introduce a week of unpaid Carer’s Leave. This will be in addition to existing employment rights, such as the right to request flexible working, annual leave and the right to time off for family and dependants which help employees balance work with caring responsibilities. In taking this forward, the Department will continue to engage widely to understand how carers’ needs can best be met.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst grouped question UIN 8945 8947 question first answered 03/02/2020 14:53:18 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
tabling member	298 label Biography information for Steve McCabe

1173949

registered interest
date	28/01/2020
answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
answering dept id	201
answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
hansard heading	Carers: Leave
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether the Government’s plans to extend the entitlement to leave for unpaid carers to one week will be in the form of paid leave.
tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Selly Oak
tabling member printed	Steve McCabe
uin	8947
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/02/2020 answer text <p>This Government is determined to make Britain the best place in the world to work. As announced in the Queens’ Speech, we will be bringing forward an Employment Rights Bill to deliver the greatest reform of workers’ rights in over 20 years. This will include measures to introduce an entitlement to leave for unpaid carers.</p><p>The Government’s proposal is to introduce a week of unpaid Carer’s Leave. This will be in addition to existing employment rights, such as the right to request flexible working, annual leave and the right to time off for family and dependants which help employees balance work with caring responsibilities. In taking this forward, the Department will continue to engage widely to understand how carers’ needs can best be met.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst grouped question UIN 8945 8946 question first answered 03/02/2020 14:53:18 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
tabling member	298 label Biography information for Steve McCabe

1173991

registered interest
date	28/01/2020
answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
answering dept id	201
answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
hansard heading	Construction: Billing
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what plans her Department has for eliminating the use of cash retentions in the construction industry; and if she will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Kilmarnock and Loudoun
tabling member printed	Alan Brown
uin	9082
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/01/2020 answer text <p>The Government is committed to improving payment practices; we fully understand the practice of cash retentions can create problems for contractors in the supply chain.</p><p> </p><p>To date, we have undertaken extensive analysis of the responses to the 2018 consultation exercise alongside wider stakeholder discussions. This includes ministerial roundtables, which bring together representatives from the construction sector to consider cash retention issues and reach a consensus on policy options.</p><p> </p><p>A range of views remain across the sector and its clients about the problems associated with the withholding of retentions, and how these might be addressed.</p><p> </p><p>We will publish the response to the consultation on the practice of cash retention under construction contracts as soon as possible. The Government will continue to work with industry on these issues.</p> answering member constituency Stratford-on-Avon answering member printed Nadhim Zahawi question first answered 30/01/2020 15:49:03 answering member 4113 label Biography information for Nadhim Zahawi
tabling member	4470 label Biography information for Alan Brown

1173993

registered interest
date	28/01/2020
answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
answering dept id	201
answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
hansard heading	Small Businesses: Government Assistance
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps her Department is taking to support small business growth in (a) Bexley Borough, (b) London and (c) the UK.
tabling member constituency	Bexleyheath and Crayford
tabling member printed	Sir David Evennett
uin	8964
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/02/2020 answer text <p>We want to make sure that the UK is the best place in the world to work and grow a business. That’s why we are backing businesses right across the country, with 381,000 new businesses starting last year, and the government-owned British Business Bank currently supports more than £7bn to over 91,000 smaller businesses.</p><p>The British Business Bank’s Start-Up Loans programme provides loans to entrepreneurs seeking to start and grow their own businesses. Since 2012 the programme has delivered more than 69,000 Start-Up Loans, providing more than £558m of funding, in every part of the United Kingdom. Since 2012:</p><ul><li>The constituency of Bexleyheath and Crayford received 72 loans worth over £661,000;</li><li>In London 15,642 loans were issued worth over £126m.</li></ul><p>In addition to its lending and investment activity, the British Business Bank’s online Finance Hub helps business owners to find the right finance options for their needs.</p><p>Government has also taken a number of steps in recent years to support the growth of small businesses across the UK, including cutting corporation tax to 19 per cent and increasing the employment allowance from £2,000 to £3,000 to benefit around 1m businesses. Reforms and reliefs to business rates, since Budget 2016, are worth £13 billion over the next five years.</p><p>All businesses in England including your constituency and London, can access support through our Gov.uk website, the Business Support Helpline (0300 456 3565) and through their Local Growth Hubs.</p><p>As well as an online support, London has recently opened five main physical sites (that will be staffed) in Vauxhall, Woolwich, Tottenham, Hammersmith and Corydon, and 4 satellite sites (to ensure a wide coverage of the sub regions) in Harrow, Wood Green, Brixton and Ilford to deliver surgeries and workshops. These are led and governed by London’s Local Enterprise Partnership, LEAP. Growth Hubs provide a free, impartial, ‘single point of contact’ to help businesses in these areas identify and access the right support for them at the right time no matter their size or sector. In 2018-2019 the London Growth Hub supported 4,651 businesses.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 04/02/2020 11:24:30 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
tabling member	1198 label Biography information for Sir David Evennett

1174035

registered interest
date	28/01/2020
answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
answering dept id	201
answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
hansard heading	Employment: Endometriosis
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps her Department is taking to support women with endometriosis in the workplace.
tabling member constituency	Lewisham, Deptford
tabling member printed	Vicky Foxcroft
uin	9088
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/02/2020 answer text <p>It is our priority to make the UK the best place in the world to work. The Government is determined to ensure employers are fully equipped to support those who are experiencing long term health conditions. We consulted for employees with long term health conditions last year on a range of measures to encourage early and supportive action by employers and on how to boost the support that Government provides. We will publish our response to that consultation in due course.</p><p> </p><p>Flexible working can be key in helping people to manage long term health conditions and work. Subject to consultation, the Government will be bringing forward measures in an Employment Bill to make flexible working the default.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 04/02/2020 11:24:39 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
tabling member	4491 label Biography information for Vicky Foxcroft

1174039

registered interest
date	28/01/2020
answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
answering dept id	201
answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
hansard heading	New Businesses: Government Assistance
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps she is taking to ensure that Government grants for start-up companies are not fraudulently obtained.
tabling member constituency	New Forest West
tabling member printed	Sir Desmond Swayne
uin	8935
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/02/2020 answer text <p>Government has robust checks in place and carries out due diligence through its Delivery Partners when issuing grants to both start-ups and established businesses. Where recipients have been found to act fraudulently serious action will be taken.</p><p> </p><p>Through Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) competitive funding is provided to businesses, including start-ups. UKRI have a zero-tolerance approach to fraud and there are stringent controls and checks in place to stop fraud from happening throughout the lifetime of a project. These include:</p><p> </p><ul><li>A rigorous assessment of the project costs a company submits as part of its application. If an applicant’s bid is successful, further due diligence checks on the viability of a company and the eligibility of the costs it has submitted are carried out, before the project is allowed to start and the company is able to start claiming any grant.</li></ul><p> </p><ul><li>Quarterly meetings between the project team and a dedicated Monitoring Officer, who helps ensure the project complies with the terms and conditions of the grant and is delivering it to plan.</li></ul><p> </p><ul><li>Participants providing evidence to support each claim made. This will include the mandatory submission of a report produced by an independent accountant alongside specific claims certifying that the costs incurred on the project are legitimate and directly attributable to the project. Grants will only be paid once audits and reports are completed, and UKRI are satisfied of their validity. Claims may be subject to an independent audit.</li></ul><p> </p><p>In addition, UKRI have a dedicated investigations team tasked with identifying individuals and companies who submit false information in order to obtain funding. Relevant information and intelligence is shared with Action Fraud and CIFAS, and where appropriate UKRI will apply as many sanctions as possible, including criminal prosecution and civil recovery. UKRI take all reasonable steps to prevent any organisation found to have acted fraudulently from accessing future funding, on behalf of the whole of Government.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 03/02/2020 14:53:02 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
tabling member	55 label Biography information for Sir Desmond Swayne